Housing decision brief
Bonner County, ID Housing Market
Bonner County screens as a higher purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
39th lowest home value out of 44 Idaho counties with data | 37th lowest rent out of 44
Median home value
$433,400
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$1,059/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$1,015/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
6.7x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
27.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$44/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Rent burden below pressure line
27.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $44/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$65,168 median income is 1% below Idaho county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Households weighing ownership against renting
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Bonner County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $433,400 | $281,950 | $281,900 | 54% pressure54% above Idaho county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,059 | $877 | $1,163 | 21% pressure21% above Idaho county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $1,015 | $916 | $1,672 | 11% pressure11% above Idaho county median |
Median household income | $65,168 | $65,531 | $74,755 | Near state median1% below Idaho county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.40% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 60% favorable60% below Idaho county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 27.00% | 27.00% | N/A | Near state median27.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$22,808
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$21,668
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Bonner County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $1,059/month , about 19.5% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
Renters in Bonner County pay $1,059/month on average, compared to $1,015/month for homeowners. This market favors buyers by about 4%.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $42,360/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $43,500/year. With a median household income of $65,168, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 27.0% of renter households in Bonner County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Within Idaho, Bonner County is less affordable than Elmore County by roughly 5% ($1,059/mo vs $1,111/mo).
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gem County, ID | $367,300 | $887/mo | Same-state comparison near $367,300 home value and $887/mo rent. |
| Madison County, ID | $365,000 | $965/mo | Same-state comparison near $365,000 home value and $965/mo rent. |
| Latah County, ID | $342,500 | $905/mo | Same-state comparison near $342,500 home value and $905/mo rent. |
| Boise County, ID | $424,100 | $854/mo | Same-state comparison near $424,100 home value and $854/mo rent. |
| Hinsdale County, CO | $438,800 | $1,099/mo | Out-of-state peer near $438,800 home value and $1,099/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Bonner County
Is Bonner County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Bonner County?
How much income do you need for housing in Bonner County?
What should I double-check before moving to Bonner County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.